Welcome to my E3 2019 predictions! This year we’re kicking things off with Nintendo, but make sure to keep your eyes peeled for Microsoft, Third Party, and a special look at Sony.

For the first time, I feel like we, as a community, have a pretty good handle on what Nintendo is bringing to the table this year. They’ve been pretty open about some of the bigger names which has certainly helped fill in the various pieces of the puzzle. Still, there are some gaps, so perhaps Nintendo has a surprise or two in store for us.

The biggest wildcard for me though is the fact that Reggie is no longer around. I still feel weird saying that, but the main man retired from his position in April, passing the torch to Bowser. Well, not THAT Bowser, but Doug Bowser. I’m curious to see what he brings to the table as he has some large shoes to fill.

Honestly, Nintendo just needs to continue to lean into their strengths for this E3. Keep pushing unique experiences and first party “must have” exclusives. So with that in mind, here are some of the reveals I’m thinking Nintendo will bring to the table this year.

I choose you, Pokemon Switch!
This one is fairly obvious. Last year it was the “Let’s Go” series, but this year is all about Pokemon Sword and Shield. Revealed earlier this year through a dedicated Nintendo Direct, E3 2019 will be the time Nintendo pulls the curtain back in full.

As one of, or perhaps THE headlining game for Nintendo, expect to see plenty more details on the new Galar Region, three starters (Scorbunny, Sobble, and Grookey), new and returning Pokemon, as well as plenty of gameplay. You can also expect to see plenty on this game during the Nintendo Treehouse segments as well.

Tom Nook Is Coming
The other big name for the back half of 2019 has to be Animal Crossing. Nintendo has heavily hinted at it in Isabelle’s Smash trailer, and as far as I know, the Animal Crossing Switch game is still on track for release in a few months. Shockingly, we haven’t seen anything on it…until now.

I’m still expecting a release later this year so consider E3 2019 as its coming out party. Plenty of gameplay, the proper game name, details on new mechanics and features, as well as a solid release date. Mark it down.

Get Woke
After the surprising announcement earlier this year, I believe Nintendo will show more on The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. We saw a trailer earlier this year, so like Animal Crossing and Pokemon, we’ll see some actual gameplay as well as get a date. Don’t expect as much as the previously mentioned games though especially because this isn’t a new game, it’s a remake.

New Hardware
Rumors have been swirling about the prospect of new hardware. While the Switch isn’t going anywhere, it sounds like new models of the console could be on the way. If they really are doing it, there’s no better place than E3 with all of the eyes on you. According to what I’ve been hearing, the first model will be an enhanced version with better tech and hardware like RAM, HDD storage, etc. It’s not going to be a massive jump, but for the hardcore, it may be worth an upgrade.

The second model will be the complete opposite. The portable only, cheaper version.

The Power of Indies
The Switch has done a fantastic job of attracting indies and I’m really enjoying that. I’ve been picking up all sorts of quality games like Kitana ZERO, The Messenger, Hollow Knight, and more. We still have plenty to look forward to this year and I’m sure that Nintendo will highlight even more.

Third Time is a CharmBayonetta 3 feels like a game that has been in development for ages and never once spoken about outside of the initial tease. I’m hoping it’s not in a Metroid Prime 4 situation where it needed to be rebooted and delayed. Honestly, I feel like it’s been in development long enough that E3 2019 could be the make or break time for it. They must have something to show off at this point, right?

Other mentionsSuper Mario Maker 2 and Fire Emblem: Three Houses are out very close to E3 so I don’t think they’ll get a ton of press of screen time, but it would surprise me to not see either mentioned at all. My guess is that they’ll get some time during the Nintendo Treehouse segments that kick up after the main presentation. Even more so for Mario Maker 2 as we just got a hefty Nintendo Direct about it earlier this week so it wouldn’t take up any stage time during Nintendo’s E3 content.

I also think we’ll get some Smash Bros DLC news since things have gone fairly quiet since Joker finally launched. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see actual gameplay of Luigi’s Mansion 3.

My Wishlist
I won’t lie, I’m still holding out hope for either a new F-Zero or a remake of one of the classic ones. Maybe not the SNES version though, let’s not go back THAT far.

I still want a Super Metroid Remastered. I have zero hope that this will happen. At least we’ll get that Metroid Prime Trilogy announcement though, right? Maybe? Hopefully? Metroid.

What’s Up with Virtual Console? Nintendo has light years to go before they catch up to Sony/Microsoft in terms of backwards compatibility. I know they have games that release every so often for “Online” subscribers, but I’d like to see a more dedicated store for classic games like we had on the Wii and WiiU. But only better with more content.

Finally, and this is a bit outlandish, I’d love to see a new Mario Kart. Obviously, Mario Kart 8 is hard to top considering how strong of a package it is. So, the franchise is going to have to evolve in order to make it seem less of a rehash. That’s why Nintendo should consider a Nintendo Kart racer instead. It’s an idea they lightly explored with non-Mario characters like Isabelle, Villager, Link, and Inkling. Why not rip the bandaid off and go full Nintendo All-Stars for the next kart racer? Think of all the amazing stages and huge roster of characters it could have. I don’t think we’ll see this, but I’m very intrigued by it.

Those are my picks, but what are yours? Let me know what you’re hoping to see from Nintendo in the comments below.

10 Responses to Gamer Crash Predicts E3 2019: Nintendo

My thoughts on this basically mirror yours on this, but I also think they’ll announce something for Nintendo Switch Online. The service has done little to justify itself so far, so I think Nintendo is keen to get people interested in it somehow. Maybe we won’t get the old style Virtual Console, but maybe an online Netflix-style library instead? That would definitely sell some subscriptions!

Yeah, good point. I mean, the price point is nice compared to the other two, but even at such a low price, I can’t justify it. I just don’t think i’d use it at all. Hopefully they can convince me otherwise.